
oldsmobile-digest            Sunday, 5 May 1996         Volume 01 : Number 167


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From: Greg Beaulieu <ab348>
Date: Sat, 4 May 1996 18:42:23 -0300
Subject: One of Those Days...

Friday was the nicest day of the year here by far, with lots of sun and 
temps almost summer-like. In a rare instance of foresight on my part I 
booked the day off from work and intended to do a bunch of stuff, 
including a visit to the wrecking yard where I had seen a couple of 
mid-70s Oldses a month ago, one with a 350-4 barrel, the other with a 
455. Plus, it was on the agenda to call Dick Miller Racing, finally order 
the new cam, call Fusick's and order some stuff from them, and if time 
allowed, maybe even play a little golf for the first time this year.

I knew when I read the morning paper that things were to be challenging 
Friday. The horoscope (taken with a very large grain of salt) did not 
sound promising - "red lights" and caution were called for, it said. 
Hmmm. Started out by calling Dick Miller, and discovered I had copied 
down the wrong phone number and instead got Ashley Jones' house, the Olds 
sheetmetal guy.  No problem, got the right number for Miller and talked 
to someone there. I don't know who I was talking to - I could hear 
various metallic pounding and clanging sounds in the background - but the 
advice I got was less than helpful, even though he was friendly enough. 

I explained what I had in terms of the car itself, and said I didn't want 
anything too radical in the way of a cam, nor did I want to go to headers 
or an Edelbrock manifold; would a JM 16-18 be a good choice? 

"What kind of car you got?"

I explained that part again.

"Big block?"

I said 350, for the 3rd time.

"JM 18-20 works good."

I said I had been thinking about that, but Joe's catalog recommends 
headers, Holley carb and an Edelbrock intake. Don't want that. What gives?

"Yeah... well, I've seen it in a few 455s. Works good."

What was the idle like?, I asked.

"You know you've got a cam in it, for sure. But it's up to you. If you're 
not sure, go with one a little milder."

I could see I was getting nowhere fast here, so I thanked him and hung 
up, a little disappointed. 

I decided I needed to think about this a little more, so I decided to head
out to the junkyard. Down to the garage, open the trunk, hmmm, no light.
Open the door, again, no light. Try the key, not even a click.  Damn, dead
battery. Must have left a light on a few days ago. But I've got my Buick
parked right alongside and a good set of jumpers, so I'll just boost the
Olds and figure out what I did to kill the battery. Hook up the cables,
and as I make the last connection YOWZA! Sparks everywhere! Pull it off,
wait for my heartbeat to die down, and mentally kick myself for screwing
up. Pull off the cables, carefully check everything, try again. ZAP! Looks
like I'm trying to weld on the engine lift hoop. Geez, a short somewhere.
Great. Where to start. Ponder for a moment before deciding that I should
check one last thing. Disconnect the battery cables from the Olds, and
hook up the booster cables to them. No sparks... it's the battery. A
relief, at least _that_ I know I can do something about. And I had been
pondering getting a nice new Delco battery anyway, to replace the generic
Auto Depot one that had been in there when I bought the car. My hand had
just been forced a little, and my bank account will take a little more of
a hit. 

The Buick isn't quite ready for prime time yet, but it'll do in a pinch 
so I call my friendly garage-man and see if he's got a spare side 
terminal battery I can borrow until I buy a new one. Sure, c'mon up, he 
says, so I fire up the Buick and head out. Hmmm, what's this? The tranny 
sure seems slippy... never did that before... oh, s**t, it's slipping 
like crazy! Great, just what I need. Hadn't counted on that at all, and 
certainly not right now. By the time I get to the garage, though, the 
slipping isn't too bad, so maybe it's just lack of use. I hope so, but 
it'll go in for a look-see real soon. Anyway, pick up the loaner battery, 
get home, install, the Olds starts right up. Too bad I didn't notice the 
loaner juicebox was covered with black grease; well, this shirt and pants 
probably needed laundering anyway...

Head out to the junkyard, tell the guy behind the counter what I'm after. 
He eyes me suspiciously (junkyard guys always do). "When you were here and
saw 'em?" About a month ago, I say. "They ain't here now." I pry out of
him that they were crushed, while he seems to treat any information he has 
like a national secret. Any others? "Not sure." Can I go look around?
He gives me royal assent so I go in. I love junkyards but haven't yet met
a guy who works in one who seems like he *likes* what he does, around here
they all seem very... ummm, disturbed. (Apologies to any junkyard guys on 
here, I'm sure you're very different!) Wander around for a while, and I
finally find something with an Olds 4-barrel V-8, so I start to get some
small stuff. After about an hour of bending over the engine, I go to
straighten up and my back tells me not to make any sharp moves... ouch,
that hurt. For the first time I manage to not cut myself while stripping
parts, and my back goes out. No golf today. 

Gingerly make my way home and start by checking the underhood light I
scored at the yard. Merc switch is no good. This is the 3rd or 4th one of
these I've had, and they all had bad merc switches. I guess I should just
buy a new one from Memmer or someone. Call my friend Brian to help me put
on the new set of battery cables I've had kicking around all winter to go
with the new battery I'm about to go buy; sure, come by in about an hour,
he says. Decide to heat something in the microwave before I go; oven runs
for 3 seconds and goes stone dead.  Blown internal fuse, non-serviceable
by me, back to Sears tomorrow assuming I can lift it. The streak
continues. 

Go to the garage with my new Spring-Ring cables in hand and see something
bizarre across the driveway from my cars: a Buick Skylark (one of the new
ugly ones) that looks like it's been trashed. That car has never been here
before, but I couldn't figure out how it got here this time; the whole
front end was destroyed, the hood buckled, the radiator has just disgorged
itself on the concrete, and the left front wheel is definitely not on the
straight and narrow. Looks like a Jimmy Spencer Nascar stocker after
hitting the wall. Follow the antifreeze and shedded parts back to a
concrete post at the bottom of the ramp to this level of the garage; tire
tracks lead straight into it. Ouch! Must have been going awfully fast to
do that much damage. Glad I don't park there, and amazingly the cars that
normally do were out.  Pick up assorted glass, plastic, chrome parts,
along with the bumper cover, to get them out of the way when I leave.
Notice that the car has temporary tags on it, and there is no one in sight
anywhere. Must be an awful feeling to wreck your car before the DMV sends 
you your plates. Eventually a security guard comes and stares along with me,
somewhat dumbfounded. I figure the accident was caused by my aura... 

I arrive at Brian's without incident and tell him about my day so far and
offer to leave if he's spooked. Courageous guy that he is, he offers to
help and off we go to buy the battery (Price Club has Delco batteries at
great prices). Back to his place and things get better. Our friend Steve's
'70 SX is there for some work and Brian suggests we take it for a drive. I
get to drive my first 455 and needless to say it is lots o' fun.  I love
the TH-400. Nice car, and since the owner almost never drives it I think I
might add him to my xmas list to keep me in his good graces should he
decide to sell. Brian has a great shop and we install the cables without
much incident - the car doesn't fall off the jackstands the way I expected
it would given the events of the day - and afterwards we sit around in the
garage, admiring the 3 Cutlasses there, sipping a cold beer, and
speculating on why there isn't a better way to install a positive battery
cable at the starter end than this. At least the new Delco, the 
spring-rings, and the newly restored horn relay I got from Chris Witt a 
few months back that we installed at the same time makes that side of the 
engine room look really good.

Hope I don't have to defer the cam purchase too long, but if the Buick's 
trans needs rebuilding, I dunno... guess that's for another day. Me and 
my bank account need to recover from this one first.
 

Greg Beaulieu        ab348@ccn.cs.dal.ca        Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

------------------------------

From: David Paulison <dpauliso@metrolink.net>
Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 20:16:45 -0300
Subject: Rear Speakers (WAS: Re: Here she is... Miss America)

At 06:51 PM 5/3/96 -0300, you wrote:
 but the trouble, really, is with the rear speakers -
>where else could they be installed?  Any advice?
>
>Many thanks!
>
>
>
In my 69 Cutlass (not originally equipped with rear speakers), I removed the
rear package tray, and there were already cutouts and mounting holes for 6x9
speakers (I think 6x9; that's what I fit in there, anyway) in the sheet
metal underneath it, as well as in the package tray.  I just punched out the
holes in the tray, and mounted the speakers and grilles.  The wires I ran
under the dash, down the kick panels on each side, under the carpet where
the sill plates in the door frame are, and then under the back seat into the
trunk.  Can't see any wires, and didn't have to make any major mods to the
package tray, either!

Hope this helps you out...
- --
Dave Paulison             Melbourne, FL          69 Cutlass Supreme
dpauliso@metrolink.net

------------------------------

From: David Paulison <dpauliso@metrolink.net>
Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 20:27:51 -0300
Subject: Re: parts needed

At 01:27 AM 5/4/96 -0300, you wrote:
>I'm looking for the right rear brake light lens and a vertical
>weatherstrip, between passenger & driver, for a 1970 Delta 88 Custom. Any
>leads?
>
>
Yes, found this in Hemmings:

Taillights and lenses, 1961-68 Olds, excellent to NOS condition.
213-478-9020, CA.

I know the ad only says to 1968, but you might give them a call to see if
they can help...
- --
Dave Paulison             Melbourne, FL          69 Cutlass Supreme
dpauliso@metrolink.net

------------------------------

From: David Paulison <dpauliso@metrolink.net>
Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 20:41:13 -0300
Subject: WANTED

Hey folks,

I'm looking for a set of 4 stainless beauty rings for my SSIII wheels.
Don't really want to buy new; they're too expensive.  I got a set from a
friend off his wrecked 84 Monte, but they don't fit the Olds wheels right;
they're too deep, and they're kinda trashed.  If anybody's got a set (even
just 1 or 2..) in good shape they wanna get rid of...

Also looking for the radio mounting plate for the dash of a 69 Cutlass
Supreme. The one in mine is carved up to fit an aftermarket stereo in it.
I'd like to put the original radio back in (which I have!) and mount the
aftermarket in the glove box or something.

Thanks!
- --
Dave Paulison             Melbourne, FL          69 Cutlass Supreme
dpauliso@metrolink.net

------------------------------

From: Greg Beaulieu <ab348>
Date: Sat, 4 May 1996 21:28:32 -0300
Subject: Re: Rear Speakers (WAS: Re: Here she is... Miss America)

On Wed, 1 May 1996, David Paulison wrote:
> At 06:51 PM 5/3/96 -0300, you wrote:
>  but the trouble, really, is with the rear speakers -
> >where else could they be installed?  Any advice?
> In my 69 Cutlass (not originally equipped with rear speakers), I removed the
> rear package tray, and there were already cutouts and mounting holes for 6x9
> speakers (I think 6x9; that's what I fit in there, anyway) in the sheet
> metal underneath it, as well as in the package tray.  I just punched out the
> holes in the tray, and mounted the speakers and grilles.

I think the car in question was a convertible, so that won't do. I know 
that those converts had a rear speaker option that (as I recall) fired 
towards the rear end of the car, probably not ideal. Mounted on the 
backside of the rear seat area.

As an alternative, check out http://www.car-trek.com/ccr

That's the Classic Car Radio Company's home page and they have some neat 
stuff, including a custom stereo speaker setup that fits into the in-dash 
space. Don't know how much stereo effect you'd get but it's something at 
least. They also have images on there of 60's and 70's Olds AM radios 
retrofitted with their conversions to turn them into stereos. Neat, 
probably expensive though.

Greg Beaulieu        ab348@ccn.cs.dal.ca        Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

------------------------------

From: Greg Beaulieu <ab348>
Date: Sat, 4 May 1996 21:31:18 -0300
Subject: '97 Cutlass

You can see the rollout of the '97 Cutlass - via a rather hokey Madison 
Ave. style intro unfortunately - at the "Woman Motorist" magazine web page:

http://www.west.net/~webpages/wm/oldsftrs.html

Also a few nice pics of vintage Oldsmobiles there too.

Greg Beaulieu        ab348@ccn.cs.dal.ca        Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

------------------------------

From: Greg Beaulieu <ab348>
Date: Sat, 4 May 1996 21:35:33 -0300
Subject: Dashpots

Quick question, since all the parts stores are closed until Monday: 
anyone know if dashpots (the idle control gizmo with a spring-loaded
plunger that mounts next to the throttle linkage) are still available new?
The one I got for my '68 350 4-barrel conversion is toast, and since I
think it's visible it's be nice to have a nice shiny one anyway. Anyone
know? 

Greg Beaulieu        ab348@ccn.cs.dal.ca        Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

------------------------------

From: lawrencr@kostabi.gdls.com (Robert Lawrence)
Date: Sat, 4 May 1996 21:43:08 -0300
Subject: Re: Rear Speakers (WAS: Re: Here she is... Miss America)

> At 06:51 PM 5/3/96 -0300, you wrote:
>  but the trouble, really, is with the rear speakers -
> >where else could they be installed?  Any advice?
> >
> >Many thanks!
> >
> >
> >
> In my 69 Cutlass (not originally equipped with rear speakers), I removed the
> rear package tray, and there were already cutouts and mounting holes for 6x9
> speakers (I think 6x9; that's what I fit in there, anyway) in the sheet
> metal underneath it, as well as in the package tray.  I just punched out the
> holes in the tray, and mounted the speakers and grilles.  The wires I ran
> under the dash, down the kick panels on each side, under the carpet where
> the sill plates in the door frame are, and then under the back seat into the
> trunk.  Can't see any wires, and didn't have to make any major mods to the
> package tray, either!
> 
> Hope this helps you out...
> --
> Dave Paulison             Melbourne, FL          69 Cutlass Supreme
> dpauliso@metrolink.net


Alas, I believe he has a convertible, which has no rear package tray.

I have pondered this problem myself.  My car has two speakers.  One is
in the top center of the dashboard.  The other is in the top middle of the
back seat, facing forward.  This is the way Olds did it back then.

I had a '75 88 convertible.  It had four speakers.  One was at each
end of the top of the dashboard.  The other two where behind the back
seat facing into the boot.  They were pretty much useless when the top
was down, but worked fine when the top was up.  Again, this was the
way it came from the dealer.

The dashboard and rear package tray are excellent places to put 
speakers.  The glass and it's angle act as an extension of the
speaker cone.  This increases the bass.  It also relects the highs very
well.

High frequency sounds are very directional, while low frequency are not.
You want your tweeters at ear level, or in some place were the sound
waves will reach ear level.  The bottom of the door is not a great place.
The bottom of the door is also close to the carpet and seats, which
may absord both the high and low sound energy.  And of course, your
tweeters are pointing at your ankles,  which is about as far from
pointing at your ears as you can get.

I digress.  I believe the original post (which I unfortunately deleted) was 
asking for ideas on where to put rear speakers in a convertible.  I've seen
people put speakers in the panel above the rear armrests, but that
involves cutting holes in those panels.  The job I saw (on a 72(?) Cutlass
convertible), wasn't very attractive.

Rear speakers aren't going to do a whole lot for the driver anyway, when the
roof is down.  They'll sound good when the top is up, and your
rear seat passengers will appreciate them, when the top is down.

It's kind of a no-win situation.  I've thought about putting speaker
boxes under the seats, speakers in the doors, behind the dash pointing
down, but I haven't thought of anything I liked, yet.

I heard there is a company that sells a 6x9 "stereo" speaker for older
one speaker in the middle of the dash cars.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Lawrence   | 1970 Oldsmobile 98 Convertible               .^.
lawrencr@gdls.com |  _________,~--,___________\____________     /9|8\
(810) 825-8007    |  |                |~    |        ___   |    \}|{/
Sterling Hts., MI |  =------(-o-)-------------------( o )--=      v

------------------------------

From: fred@sol1.lrsm.upenn.edu (Fred Hellmig)
Date: Sat, 4 May 1996 22:05:57 -0300
Subject: Re: Shirt

Got my shirt on Friday. It looks great.
Fred

- -- 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fred Hellmig (KA3NKK)
WORK:                           HOME:
University of Pennsylvania
Building Administrator                822 Anderson Ave.
L.R.S.M. Bld. Room 100                Drexel Hill Pa. 19026
3231 Walnut Street                    610 449-4080
Phila. Pa. 19104
215-898-7793     FAX # 215-898-8296
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

From: David Paulison <dpauliso@metrolink.net>
Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 22:16:53 -0300
Subject: Re: Dashpots

At 09:35 PM 5/4/96 -0300, you wrote:
>Quick question, since all the parts stores are closed until Monday: 
>anyone know if dashpots (the idle control gizmo with a spring-loaded
>plunger that mounts next to the throttle linkage) are still available new?
>The one I got for my '68 350 4-barrel conversion is toast, and since I
>think it's visible it's be nice to have a nice shiny one anyway. Anyone
>know? 
>
>Greg Beaulieu        ab348@ccn.cs.dal.ca        Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
>
Yes, I was just looking for one for my 69 this week.  The auto parts store
didn't have one in stock, but could get one in a day or two.  They stock
Borg-Warner at the place I go to down here in Florida...
- --
Dave Paulison             Melbourne, FL          69 Cutlass Supreme
dpauliso@metrolink.net

------------------------------

From: David Paulison <dpauliso@metrolink.net>
Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 22:18:19 -0300
Subject: Re: Rear Speakers (WAS: Re: Here she is... Miss America)

At 09:43 PM 5/4/96 -0300, you wrote:

>
>Alas, I believe he has a convertible, which has no rear package tray.
>


Oh yeah...didn't realize that...
- --
Dave Paulison             Melbourne, FL          69 Cutlass Supreme
dpauliso@metrolink.net

------------------------------

From: Mike Hall <mikehal1@ix.netcom.com>
Date: Sun, 5 May 1996 09:16:53 -0300
Subject: Re: One of Those Days...

>I could see I was getting nowhere fast here, so I thanked him and hung 
>up, a little disappointed.


Lots of bandwidth snipped...

I had the same experience with Dick Miller. He really is in search of a 
personality when on the phone. I met him in person one day a couple years 
back when I was visiting a plant down near Hillsdale, Michigan. He was 
very friendly, dare I say even informative? Yet, a full service supplier 
he is not as my crank work (crossdrilling and nitriding) ended up taking 
months to complete. I had to rely on my own experience and knowledge when 
buying my engine components.

Would I buy there again? Probably not, I think I would prefer to talk to 
Joe Mondello on the next engine.

By the way, my brief exercise with putting my Cutlass on the auction 
block ends with a positive note... It's off the auction block, Not For 
Sale! So goes my attempts to balance the family budget as the wife thinks 
it is more important to keep the husband happy...

What a gal!



<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Michael R. Hall                            Ortonville, Michigan
E-Mail: mikehal1@ix.netcom.com
Owner: 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass S, 380 horses of pure Mondello fun...
Owner: 1991 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royale Broughm, the classy one...
Owner: 1994 GMC Sonoma Club Coupe SLS Pickup.
         Brought to you by a Apple Power Macintosh 7100/80
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

------------------------------

From: BobH592058@aol.com
Date: Sun, 5 May 1996 16:18:09 -0300
Subject: Re: Rear Speakers (WAS: Re: Here she is... Miss America) 

In a message dated 96-05-04 20:37:15 EDT, you write:

>I think the car in question was a convertible, so that won't do. 

Our '70 SX convertible has cut outsin the metal supports behind the rear seat
for 6x9 speakers.  We installed some and they work and sound great - except
when the top is down.  The top absorbs the sound.  The space under the dash
(just below the windshield) allows small speakers but they just don't cut it.

I am considering doing it the hard way by installing them in the doors.  The
trick is to _very carefully_ cut out the cardboard behind the carpet at the
bottom on the panel.  That way they can be heard yet don't look incorrect.
 Or, remove the carpet, cut the cardboard and then glue the old (or better,
new) carpet over the holes.

The only other alternative is to use speaker boxes in the back seat which are
removed for passengers or shows.

Bob Handren
'67 W-30 Modified
'70 SX Convertible

------------------------------

From: BobH592058@aol.com
Date: Sun, 5 May 1996 16:18:08 -0300
Subject: Re: WANTED 

In a message dated 96-05-04 19:50:37 EDT, you write:

>I'm looking for a set of 4 stainless beauty rings for my SSIII wheels.
>Don't really want to buy new; they're too expensive.  

J.C. Worthless (aka Whitney) has numerous choices from $24.95 to $69.95.

------------------------------

From: BobH592058@aol.com
Date: Sun, 5 May 1996 16:18:09 -0300
Subject: Re: One of Those Days... 

In a message dated 96-05-04 17:47:03 EDT, you write:

>Gingerly make my way home and start by checking the underhood light I
>scored at the yard. Merc switch is no good. This is the 3rd or 4th one of
>these I've had, and they all had bad merc switches. I guess I should just
>buy a new one from Memmer or someone.

I just bought two new underhood lights from my friendly Olds dealer.  At
about $6 why hunt in junkyards?

Sorry about the back (and other assorted bad luck).  I've been suffering with
a bad back since I was a teen ager.

Bob Handren
'67 W-30 Modified
'70 SX Convertible

------------------------------

From: buehner@cis.nmclites.edu (buehner)
Date: Sun, 5 May 1996 20:12:52 -0300
Subject: Re: parts needed 

>I'm looking for the right rear brake light lens and a vertical
>weatherstrip, between passenger & driver, for a 1970 Delta 88 Custom. Any
>leads?

Mine's Rough, but it's there,  a bit melted, as I recall.  What weatherstrip
are you after?  I've still got plenty of 70 Delta parts, but there are two
individuals in line for some of them already.  I still need to confer with
them.  Sounds like the grill and header panel are gone, now, too.  :)

    
      Charley Buehner       | "buehner@cis.nmclites.edu"
      Box 1255              | Montana State University-Northern
      Havre, Montana 59501  | http://cis.nmclites.edu/~buehner
      "Rockit 1"            | '81 Olds Cutlass 455
      "BT UR 4D"            | '70 Buick GS 455
             (Real Cars Don't Wear Bowties!)

------------------------------

End of oldsmobile-digest V1 #167
********************************

